If the football season is a marathon, then the bell has sounded and we are well into the final lap. While some teams are gearing up for a sprint finish others are in need of oxygen and a good lie down.
Last week, Manchester United transformed the Manchester derby into a demolition derby, dispatching their noisy neighbours with such passion and ruthlessness Louis van Gaal had to apologise to his wife’s City supporting hairdresser. LVG’s revitalised side come up against the Champions elect at Stamford Bridge, knowing that their recent record against Chelseais far from convincing. The Londoners have only lost once at home to Manchester United in 12 encounters and have inflicted more Premier League defeats on the Red Devils than anyone else. However, the form guide suggests that could be about to change because while United have rediscovered their attacking verve since coming to terms with van Gaal's methods, Chelsea are relying on scrappy wins as they stumble towards their first Premier League crown in five years.
Before we get to that monumental dust up we also have the biggest game in the Championship season thus far. Tonight, Norwich host Middlesbrough in a game that could decide who gets automatic promotion and who has to settle for a dogfight in the play-offs. This will undoubtedly be an epic battle and just sums up how tight the race for the Sky Bet Championship has become. Norwich seem to have timed their promotion push to perfection as they seek a top tier return at the first attempt and the Canaries host a Middlesbrough side hoping the goals of Patrick Bamford can fire them back to English football's top table. That's followed on Saturday by the fight for a play-off berth as Ipswich in sixth go to eighth placed Wolves.
Super Sunday, meanwhile, features four teams trying to keep their campaigns alive. Manchester City will attempt to put that bruising derby defeat behind them and rekindle their top four ambitions when West Ham, who have gone eight away games without a win, visit the Etihad looking for a first Premier League double over the defending champions. Tottenhamstill have European aspirations of their own and they'll be out to reverse their recent dip in form. The end of the season can't come quick enough for Newcastle, but their players and interim manager John Carver will surely want to impress the powers that be ahead of the inevitable summer rebuild.
Away from the football, Formula 1 returns to the desert on Sunday afternoon for another spectacular race under the lights in Bahrain, the scene of an epic on-track tussle betweenLewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg last year. The two team-mates are already at each other's throats one month into the new season and won't pull any punches in the championship fight, even at this early stage.
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